International
Rwanda a beacon of hope to rest of Africa, says Malawi Foreign Minister
Rwanda is a shining example and a beacon of hope to the rest of Africa, Nancy Tembo, Malawi's Minister of Foreign Affairs, said on Friday, July 29.
She
was speaking in Lilongwe, Malawi, during celebrations of Rwanda’s independence
and liberation anniversaries, which fall on July 1 and July 4, respectively.
In
Rwanda, the biggest celebrations are on Liberation Day, on July 4, when
Rwandans pay tribute to the men and women whose selfless efforts helped
liberate Rwanda. It is the day when the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) stopped
the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
In
commemorating this day, Tembo said, Malawi would like to congratulate Rwanda on
the progress it has made in various sectors of the country.
Tembo
was in Kigali during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in
June. Her visit, she said, was “an eye opener as it allowed me first-hand
experience on Rwanda’s success story.”
She
noted, with admiration,” that Rwanda has made tremendous progress in economic
development, public sector reforms, and service delivery.
“Rwanda’s
progress is impressive not only because it has taken place within a relatively
short time but also because it has happened despite the tragedy of the 1994
Genocide. This remarkable progress would not have been possible if it were not
for the sterling leadership of His Excellency Mr Paul Kagame and the
patriotism, unity of purpose and strong sense of responsibility of the people
of the Republic of Rwanda,” she said.
“Rwanda
is a shining example and is a beacon of hope to the rest of Africa. Rwanda has
demonstrated that with focus, unwavering commitment and home-grown solutions,
economic progress is possible in Africa.”
Rwanda’s
promotion of international peace and security
Tembo
as well noted that Malawi would also like to recognize Rwanda’s contribution to
the promotion of international peace and security.
“Rwanda’s
role in the fight against Islamic insurgents in Cabo Delgado in Mozambique
cannot be overemphasised,” she said.
She
noted that Malawi, as chair of the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) and as a neighbour of Mozambique, “would like to express gratitude to
Rwanda” for contributing efforts towards the restoration of peace and security
in northern Mozambique through the deployment of troops which are working
alongside the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) and the Mozambique Defence
Force.
On
July 9, 2021, at the request of Maputo, Kigali deployed troops to the latter’s northernmost Province of
Cabo Delgadoto help fight the Islamic States-linked terrorists,
stabilize the area and restore state authority.
Barely
two weeks after landing, Rwandan and Mozambican forces were circling major bases of the terrorists,capturing them,
one after a time. In less than three months, the terrorists
were dislodged from all their strongholds in areas where Rwandan forces
operate.
Tembo
added that Rwanda also plays an active role in continental and international
affairs.
“This
has allowed her to prevail in the bid for hosting of the African Medicines
Agency (AMA) during the recently held Executive Council of the African Union in
Lusaka, Zambia, this month,” she said.
“The
agency is one of the key pillars of the continent’s integration process as it will
provide for unified continental regulatory framework on production and
procurement of pharmaceuticals on the continent. Malawi congratulates Rwanda on
this achievement.”
Amandin
Rugira, the High Commissioner of Rwanda to Malawi, noted that Rwandans both
home and abroad remain indebted and eternally grateful for the heroism and
courage of the country’s liberators.
“The
Liberation struggle was ignited by decades of divisive politics initiated by
the colonial administration and subsequently perpetuated by the pre-liberation
regimes who between the periods of 1959-1994 were complicit in
institutionalizing ethnic oriented politics and discrimination towards its own
citizens and amplified the abuse of fundamental human rights in the form of
cyclic ethnic mass killings,” the envoy said.
“In
the aftermath of the genocide, Rwandans made three important choices: To stay
together, to be accountable and to think big. These decisions have been at the
core of the country’s ongoing renewal and efforts to overcome seemingly
insurmountable challenges.”
Source:
www.newtimes.co.rw